Monitoring the Impact of the Medicare+Choice Program on the Elderly, Phase Two

Award Amount: $341,679
Approval Date: November 9, 1999
Start Date: January 1, 2000
End Date: December 31, 2000
George Washington University
2175 K St. NW Ste. 700
Washington, Dist. of Columbia 20037
Principal Investigator: Brian Biles, M.D.

Initial project findings suggest that the Medicare+Choice program-under which Medicare beneficiaries can join managed care plans and other private arrangements-has resulted in fewer, not more, choices for elderly and disabled enrollees. As the new program is implemented over the next several years, this project will monitor and analyze the impact of its various components, including plan payment methods and consumer protections, on access to and quality of care for the most vulnerable beneficiaries. Project staff will identify steps to improve the plan selection process and better educate enrollees about their choices. http://www.gwu.edu